Featured Project- Barack Obama Series by Shepard Fairey
02.15.08 | Posted in: Art & Design | By: Alex JonesTags: Barack Obama, Experimental Projects, Featured Projects, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Our Favorites, Shepard Fairey
Those of you out and about in Hollywood have probably seen graphic illustrated posters here and there promoting Barack Obama. Shepard Fairey has released the poster series through his company, Obey Giant. Proceeds from this print go to produce prints for a large statewide poster campaign.
The posters measure 24 inches X 36 inches, and were originally released in an edition of 350. At only $45 a poster from the Obey store, they sold out instantly. A similar short run seems to be in the works.
There is a long tradition of politics, illustration, and graphic design. Whether in the constructivist work of the 1920s or posters promoting war bonds in the states, the political poster has been the domain of the designer. Even Fairey’s original Obey poster seems to take cues from depictions of Che Guevara. Ironically, much of Shepard Fairey’s work put non-political work in a political context. This series essentially rejoins political style and message. Perhaps we have moving from a extended period of apathy to a political awakening among the youth.
Broadly speaking, the role of the poster has declined. As media like radio, television, and now the internet provide methods to reach audiences at lower costs, the poster has taken a back seat to these newer platforms. The poster, however, has never lost its connection to the street and grassroot movements. Seeing design and illustration an individual or small group sparking political change is inspirational. This series speaks to the power of designers to affect the political dialogue.
About his motivation, Shepard Fairey says the following: “I believe with great conviction that Barack Obama should be the next President. I have been paying close attention to him since the Democratic convention in 2004. I feel that he is more a statesman than a politician. He was against the war when it was an unpopular position (and Hillary was for the war at that time), Obama is for energy and environmental conservation. He is for healthcare reform. Check him out for yourself www.barackobama.com.”
Photos by Kyle Oldoerp.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
We whole heartedly support this project and wanted to ask you all, if you see any of these posters around town to take a photo of them and send them to us. We think it’s great that art can help influence policy and culture, and we need your help recording that.
February 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
dd
February 17th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Apparently the people at OBEY were disappointed to find the posters being auctioned on ebay. Understandably so, considering many were given away to bring awareness to the campaign.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I was driving through Hollywood yesterday and saw these. We seriously thought about stopping the car and trying to take one.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:23 am
you’re delusional if you believe obama is any different. you let his charisma brainwash you. paul is real change. you’ll see.
March 9th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Fairey did not do his homework this time. It’s funny because now he is backing a guy endorsed by the CFR to further the agenda. Obama has a horrible voting record that includes, increasing troops to Iraq, more war spending, yes on patriot act, yes on waterboard torture and much more.
Shepard you are such a poser, you make a career of ripping of the stenberh brothers and calling it punk rock, now you endorse a manchurian candidate. Your campaign is true to the Obey way.
It should only read Obey Obama! then it would be more true to this devil.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
[...] These shoes probably won’t make people run to the polls, but you can clearly recognize the rising popularity of his campaign. Take a look at more of Van’s work here and look at our previous coverage of the ongoing campaign here. [...]
March 26th, 2008 at 5:03 am
obama ftw
http://katie.blogsite.org
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:39 am
[...] These shoes probably won’t make people run to the polls, but you can clearly recognize the rising popularity of his campaign. Take a look at more of Van’s work here and look at our previous coverage of the ongoing campaign here. [...]
May 28th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Ron Paul said that black people are destroying cities. He’s no progressive. Just another conservative Republican bigot.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
yeahhh…
June 4th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
You can buy these prints on t-shirts from Urban Outfitters stores (at least in California).
June 11th, 2008 at 5:48 am
What’s with the communist-style artwork for Obama?
June 11th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Shhhhh… he’ll hear you.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I have two of the Obama Hope posters and want to know how I can get those signed.
Also, I volunteered at the Cincinnati, Ohio office in March and there was a poster of Senator Obama on the wall that looked very much like the Hope Poster. It has “Change We Can Believe In” at the bottom with a map and the name Ohio to the left of the portrait. I asked for the poster, and was told it would be on display at the celebration. Before I left the office, I took a picture of it, and a good thing I did because someone stole it from the restaurant. Is there anyway you would be able to research and determine if this is one of Mr. Fairey’s posters. I have never seen another one like it.
August 5th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Hey Ruby,
I can’t make any promises, but send a jpg to submissions@neublack.com and I’ll see what I can do.
Thanks
Kellis
September 4th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I really want to buy an Obama poster. DO you have any left?
October 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
[...] muy relacionada con los posters de Obama, de Shepard Fairey (Imagen en hope.houptlab.org ,vista en [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Shepard fairey is a fake!!, a poser!!! , an impostor!!! . Any real artist can tell his images are done with a vector program. You can do it too!!. All you have to have is a photo , hit a button in the program and then wallah! you have a vector image. Give him a paper and a pencil and you will see he wont be able to draw like those posters he prints , or I doubt if he can even draw anything at all!!!!.Read more about his FAKENESS at: http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm .
SHEPARD FAIREY IS A LOSER AND NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED!
October 20th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I have two of the Obama Hope posters and want to know how I can get those signed.
Also, I volunteered at the Cincinnati, Ohio office in March and there was a poster of Senator Obama on the wall that looked very much like the Hope Poster. It has “Change We Can Believe In†at the bottom with a map and the name Ohio to the left of the portrait. I asked for the poster, and was told it would be on display at the celebration. Before I left the office, I took a picture of it, and a good thing I did because someone stole it from the restaurant. Is there anyway you would be able to research and determine if this is one of Mr. Fairey’s posters. I have never seen another one like it.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I so dearly want the Obama Hope tee shirt (preferably) or poster that Fairey did. It is the one that really “got” me. Please tell me how to get one.
Namaste.
December 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hi, my name is Frederick Moore and I would love to know how to purchase to of the T-Shirts for Hope. My cell number is 847-902-4118 or email address frederick.cody@gmail.com.
Thank You,
Frederick Moore
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
[...] Barack Obama Hope Poster [...]
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
interesting enough, super touch has posted a response to all this obey plagarism:
http://www.supertouchart.com/2009/02/02/editorial-the-medium-is-the-message-shepard-fairey-and-the-art-of-appropriation/
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Kellis responded to me. Please contact me. I sent the pic in but never heard anything. Also, I am still trying to get my posters signed.
Here is a copy of my original email
I have two of the Obama Hope posters and want to know how I can get those signed.
Also, I volunteered at the Cincinnati, Ohio office in March and there was a poster of Senator Obama on the wall that looked very much like the Hope Poster. It has “Change We Can Believe In†at the bottom with a map and the name Ohio to the left of the portrait. I asked for the poster, and was told it would be on display at the celebration. Before I left the office, I took a picture of it, and a good thing I did because someone stole it from the restaurant. Is there anyway you would be able to research and determine if this is one of Mr. Fairey’s posters. I have never seen another one like it.
June 21st, 2010 at 7:13 am
[...] Barack Obama Hope Poster [...]